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Seabirds

Pelicans

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Pelecanidae

Pelicans

A Pelican is a large water bird with a large throat pouch. Pelicans are found on all continents except Antarctica. These are birds of inland and coastal waters, they are absent from polar regions, the deep ocean, oceanic islands, and inland South America. Pelicans are large birds with large pouched bills. The smallest is the Brown Pelican [106 cm] and the largest is believed to be the Dalmatian Pelican [183 cm]. The Australian Pelican has the longest bill of any bird. Pelicans swim well with their short, strong legs and their feet with all four toes webbed. The tail is short and square. Pelicans rub the backs of their heads on their preen glands to pick up their oily secretion, which they transfer to their plumage to waterproof it.